Chapter 400: Mustering Troops

Zhu Shuang's performance at the Family Banquet in Qianqing Palace made everyone take notice.

After five years apart, the once giggling, unrefined Lao San now sits there with a straight back and measured speech.

His answers to Imperial Father's questions flow smoothly, and his knowledge of Australia's affairs is as detailed as a familiar story.

Even the usually critical Zhu Yuanzhang rarely showed a satisfied expression.

After the Banquet dispersed, dusk was already near.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong walked side by side along the palace corridor, with Zhu Shuang following behind.

The three shadows were stretched long by the setting sun, flickering on the bluestone road.

"Third brother, were those things you just said in the hall true?" Zhu Biao asked while walking, his tone carrying a hint of testing.

Zhu Shuang quickened his pace, walking beside his elder brother: "Elder brother, how could I lie before Imperial Father? Australia indeed discovered a huge Jin mine, its grade terrifyingly high.

The first batch of ore has already been shipped back; Ministry of Works officials inspected it and said its grade is more than three times higher than our current Jin mines."

Zhu Biao nodded and asked no further.

Zhu Yong walked on the other side and glanced at Zhu Shuang.

The youngster's gaze was steady when he spoke, neither evasive nor wavering.

That is the look only someone confident at heart possesses.

"Third brother, you didn't come back just to see Imperial Father and Imperial Mother, right?" Zhu Yong suddenly said.

Zhu Shuang paused, then laughed: "Second Prince, you are still that impressive."

He was silent for a moment, as if gathering his words, then lowered his voice: "Elder brother, Second Prince, there is indeed another matter. Something happened in Australia; I'm uncertain and need to discuss it with you."

Zhu Biao stopped, turned around, and looked at him.

Zhu Shuang looked around; the palace corridor was nearly empty, and distant guards were far enough that their voices couldn't be heard.

"Speak!" Zhu Biao said.

Zhu Shuang inhaled deeply and said: "Some time ago, a fleet appeared in the waters east of Australia."

Zhu Yong's brows twitched slightly: "Fleet, what kind of fleet?"

"I don't know; I've never seen such vessels. They're small, but swift, and their sails aren't our rigid ones—they're soft, inflating like a belly when the wind blows." Zhu Shuang shook his head.

Zhu Biao's brows also furrowed: "How many ships?"

"My men first spotted two ships, then a few more; altogether about seven or eight. They were roaming the eastern Australian waters, as if scouting."

Zhu Shuang paused, then continued: "I had people watch them; later they landed, and a group came ashore, looking unlike us—high noses, deep-set eyes, yellow hair, blue eyes."

Zhu Yong's pupils contracted slightly.

Yellow hair, blue eyes, high nose, deep-set eyes.

Europeans.

"Did they make any moves?" Zhu Yong asked.

Zhu Shuang nodded: "They did. After landing, they first gestured for water and food; my men gave it. Then they moved inland, saw a copper mine, and tried to claim it."

His tone grew cold at this point.

"I ordered my men to tell them this is Great Ming's land and the mine belongs to Great Ming; they wouldn't listen and even injured my people. I led men there, and they shot arrows at me, wounding two Imperial Troops."

Zhu Yong's gaze hardened: "And then?"

"Then I ordered my men to act," Zhu Shuang said casually.

"Those people's Huogi are inferior to our Flintlock Guns, and their swords are inferior to our steel swords. In one battle, my men lost three, and over a dozen were wounded.

On their side, from the two ships, not a single person survived."

Zhu Biao was silent for a moment, then asked: "What about the bodies?"

"They were thrown into the sea, and the ship was also sunk, but later I had people search the shore and retrieved a sea chart from one corpse." Zhu Shuang pulled a folded parchment from his chest and handed it over.

Zhu Biao took it and unfolded it.

Zhu Yong leaned in to look.

The chart was roughly drawn, but the general outline was discernible.

Australia's east coast was drawn relatively clearly; further east lay a vast ocean, and beyond it a landmass was marked with winding script, neither Chinese characters nor Mongol nor Persian.

"What script is this?" Zhu Biao asked.

Zhu Yong looked for a moment and said slowly: "Latin."

Zhu Biao glanced at him and asked: "Do you recognize it?"

"I saw it before at Tie Mu Er's residence; it's used by European merchants."

He obviously couldn't say he had studied it in a past life, so he used this as an excuse.

His finger pointed to the land on the chart and said: "This is Europe, far from Australia, separated by the Great Ocean. That these people could reach Australia shows their navigation skills are already quite good."

Zhu Shuang nodded: "Second Prince, that's exactly my worry. If they can come with one or two ships, they could bring ten or twenty. Australia's forces total less than twenty thousand; if tens of thousands arrived, I'm afraid we couldn't hold."

Zhu Biao folded the chart, was silent for a moment, then said: "Let's go to Wenhua Hall and sit down to discuss."

The three turned and walked toward Wenhua Hall.

Inside Wenhua Hall the lamps were already lit; eunuchs had lit candles, and the hall was brightly illuminated.

Zhu Biao sat behind the writing desk, while Zhu Yong and Zhu Shuang sat on the chairs beside him.

Zhu Biao spread the chart on the table, studied it for a long time, then looked up and asked: "Third brother, do you think those people will come again?"

Zhu Shuang nodded: "They will definitely come. Their ship was sunk by us, and none of their people returned; they will surely send someone to look for them."

"Even if they don't search, just that chart tells them Australia has a mine; such a large copper mine—who wouldn't be envious?"

Zhu Yong leaned back in his chair, his mind turning over the information.

Europeans, yellow hair, blue eyes, soft‑sail ships.

In this era, few European nations could sail to Australia. The Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and English are all possible, but the exact identity remains unclear.

"Third brother, what are those people's weapons like?" he asked.

Zhu Shuang thought for a moment and said: "They have firearms, but they're far inferior to our Flintlock Guns; short range, slow to reload, swords are also poor, the steel blades aren't good—when they clash with our sabers, they break after a few blows."

Zhu Yong nodded.

This shows that those people's technological level still can't match Great Ming.

But they are numerous and powerful—like a swarm of ants that can kill an elephant—and the shortage of troops in Australia is a major problem.

"How many men do you want?" Zhu Biao asked directly.

Zhu Shuang's eyes brightened, and he hurriedly said: "Older brother, not too many; give me ten thousand Longxiang Army troops, and with the existing forces in Australia, that'll make thirty thousand."

Add another few tens of thousands, and I can also hold it.

Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Yong and said: "Second Prince, what do you think?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said: "Ten thousand isn't enough; give him twenty thousand. Australia is vast, the coastline long; spreading ten thousand troops is like sprinkling pepper—nowhere enough."

Twenty thousand, plus the existing forces there, makes forty thousand, sufficient. If really impossible, we could have Mu Ying older brother lead troops to help; after all, Mu Ying older brother is in South Sea, very close to Australia.

Zhu Shuang hurriedly said: "Older brother, twenty thousand will do!"

Zhu Biao didn't rush to agree, and asked: "Is the Grain and Fodder on your side sufficient?"

Zhu Shuang nodded and said: "Enough. Australia's grain output has risen; last year they even shipped a batch to Great Ming, enough to feed twenty thousand troops—no problem."

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment, then said: "I can't decide on this; it requires Imperial Father's approval."

Zhu Shuang's complexion darkened slightly, but quickly returned to normal: "I understand, older brother; please help me speak to Imperial Father."

Zhu Biao stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the night outside. The moon had risen, shining on the palace wall, bright and white.

"Third brother, go back and rest first; tomorrow at dawn, we'll go together to see Imperial Father," Zhu Biao said, turning around.

Zhu Shuang stood up, clasped his fists, and said: "Yes, older brother."

He pulled another folded document from his bosom, handed it to Zhu Biao with both hands, and said: "Older brother, this is the detailed account I wrote about that fleet, including descriptions of those people's weapons, attire, and language."

Please review it tonight, so tomorrow you can tell Imperial Father.

Zhu Biao took the document and nodded.

Zhu Shuang looked at Zhu Yong again and said: "Second Prince, you should also rest early."

Zhu Yong waved his hand.

Zhu Shuang strode out of Wenhua Hall, his footsteps gradually fading.

The hall fell silent.